CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on April 15, 2024: A former procurement supervisor at the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for pocketing kickbacks from the president of a medical supply company to steer the company orders that the VA paid for but never received. THOMAS E. DUNCAN, 40, of Chicago, pleaded gu  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: A senior administrator for both the Village of Dolton, Ill. and Thornton Township, Ill. has been charged in federal court with engaging in a bankruptcy fraud scheme involving the making of false statements in his bankruptcy petition to conceal from creditors his assets and sources of income and a significant claim against him. An indictment r  more

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, April 17 -- Air Force Institute of Technology issued the following news: The Air Force Institute of Technology welcomes Dr. Scott Graham as the new dean for research leading the Office of Research and Outreach. He is currently a professor of computer engineering in AFIT's Graduate School of Engineering and Management. "I have been a fan of AFIT since I learned about it as an undergraduate cadet," Graham said. "It is an extraordinary place with innate ability to posi  more

ARGONNE, Illinois, April 17 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release: * * * New research uses model to study decarbonization scenarios across the U.S. economy * * * While the world would love to have a quick fix, there is no one specific pathway to stop or slow the rate of climate change. Scientists are developing multiple strategies to reduce carbon emissions in, and remove them from, the atmosphere -- processes known collect  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, April 17 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Attorney General William Tong announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation to review and resolve consumer complaints against airlines and ticket agents. The agreement strengthens and streamlines how the Office of the Attorney General and DOT will work together to review consumer complaints and identify violations of federal aviation consumer  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, April 17 -- Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Attorney General Lopez today joined a group of 19 attorneys general defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act--a key protection against racial discrimination in elections--against radical challenges raised in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. In an amicus brief filed in Pendergrass v. Secretary of State of Georgia and two other consolidated cases, the attorneys general arg  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with 17 attorneys general, announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation to review and resolve consumer complaints against airlines and ticket agents. The agreement streamlines the process for the attorneys general and the DOT to work together to review consumer complaints and identify violations of federal aviation cons  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act against radical challenges raised in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. In their amicus brief (https://ilag-dev.dotcms.cloud/dA/ff0a8e4e48/23-13914_13916_13921--Brief%20for%20DC%20NY%20et%20al%20as%20Amici%20Curiae%20for%20Pls-Ap  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today filed a lawsuit (https://ilag-dev.dotcms.cloud/dA/2284e469-b63d-4f83-bfd9-997c61b368db/fileAsset/2024.4.16%20-%20MV%20Realty%20-%20Complaint%20(File%20Stamped).pdf) against MV Realty PBC, LLC and MV Realty of Illinois, LLC, as well as corporate managers Amanda Zachman, Antony Mitchell and David Manchester, for allegedly tricking financially  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 17 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on April 16, 2024, involving the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Illinois Department of Human Rights' (Department) State Compliance Examination for the two years ended June 30, 2023. * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS VOUCHER PROCESSING INTERNAL CONTROLS NOT OPERATING EFFECTIVELY The Illinois Department  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 17 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Elizabeth 'Lisa' Hernandez, D-Cicero, championed the right to accurate, professional court transcripts, passing critical legislation to protect the use of qualified shorthand reporters in the courtroom. "Judges, prosecutors and especially system-involved individuals depend on quality court transcripts to make decisions that will impact people's lives, so when technology breaks down and entire   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 17 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, D-Northbrook, is using her first legislative session to advance critical measures to make communities safer, make housing more affordable, increase transparency for insurance policyholders, and expand access to reproductive healthcare. "Our community, and all Illinoisians, deserve innovative, data-driven solutions to their most pressing concerns," Katz Muhl said. "That's why I  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 17 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Michael E. Hastings passed a measure to ensure municipal and county first responders receive free mental health insurance coverage. "We owe it to these brave individuals to provide them with the support and resources they need to heal and recover from the daily trauma they continuously endure in the line of duty," said Hastings (D-Frankfort). "It is not only morally imperative but also cos  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) passed legislation to help support emergency ambulance services in Clark County by providing the ambulance services they need in case of emergencies. "This bill came as at the joint request of Clark County and the Marshall Fire Protection District, so I am happy to help them out to support this initiative," said Sen. Rose. Senate Bill 3402 transfers the ambulance portio  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 17 -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following statement on April 16, 2024, by State Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove: * * * Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement in response to Gov. JB Pritzker's appointment of an executive director to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board: "Gov. Pritzker has still failed to provide a transparent accounting of the breakdown in the PRB process tha  more

PEORIA, Illinois, April 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Pere Marquette Hotel developers Gary E. Matthews and Monte J. Brannan were sentenced yesterday in federal court. Matthews, 81, of the 400 block of Highview Road in East Peoria, Illinois, has been sentenced to 40 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Brannan, 71, of the 3200 block of North Elmcroft Terrace, Peoria, Illinois was sentenced to 24 months   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 17 -- Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs issued the following news release: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned nearly $20 million to Illinois residents during March through the state's missing money program called I-Cash. The total includes more than $18.6 million in cash and interest and nearly $1.2 million in stock value. All told, 12,557 unclaimed property claims were paid in March. "We put money back in people's pockets, and that helps t  more

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued the following order (MDL No. 3098): * * * In Re: 23andMe, Inc., Customer Data Security Breach Litigation TRANSFER ORDER Before the Panel: Defendants 23andMe, Inc., 23andMe Pharmacy Holdings, Inc., and 23andMe Holding Co. (together, 23andMe) move under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 to centralize this litigation in the Northern District of California. The litigation consists of 31 actions pending in three districts, as listed   more

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued the following order (MDL No. 3102): * * * In Re: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Tithing Litigation TRANSFER ORDER Before the Panel: Plaintiff in the Southern District of Illinois Long action moves under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 to centralize this litigation in the Central District of California. The litigation consists of four actions pending in four districts, as listed on Schedule A. Since the filing   more

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued the following order (MDL No. 3105): * * * In Re: College Athlete Compensation Antitrust Litigation ORDER DENYING TRANSFER Before the Panel:* Plaintiffs in the Northern District of California Carter action move under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 to centralize this litigation in the Northern District of California. This litigation consists of two actions, one pending in the District of Colorado and one pending in the Northern  more

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued the following order (MDL No. 3100): * * * In Re: Real Estate Commission Antitrust Litigation ORDER DENYING TRANSFER Before the Panel:* Plaintiffs in two Western District of Missouri actions move under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 to centralize this litigation in the Western District of Missouri. In their reply, movants state they alternatively support the Northern District of Illinois as transferee district. This litigation  more

LANSING, Michigan, April 17 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to review and resolve consumer complaints against airlines and ticket agents. The agreement streamlines how the Attorney General and DOT will work together to review consumer complaints and identify violations of federal aviation consumer protection requirements  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 17 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Attorney General Josh Stein announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation to review and resolve consumer complaints against airlines and ticket agents and identify violations of federal aviation consumer protections. "Too often, air travel is a headache. This partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation authorizes my office to b  more

NEW YORK, April 17 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general defending Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965--a key protection against racial discrimination in elections--against challenges raised in a Georgia redistricting lawsuit. In an amicus brief filed in Pendergrass v. Secretary of State of Georgia and two other consolidated cases (https://ag.  more

NEW YORK, April 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that WILLIAM BYNUM was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to make false statements to the National Basketball Association ("NBA") Players' Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the "Plan"). On November 15, 2023, BYNUM was found guilty of  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of paper shopping bags from Turkey that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value. Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and A  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, April 17 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in Illinois impacted by the ice jams and flooding that occurred Jan. 15-25, to apply for physical damage disaster loans by May 13 deadline. The declaration covers Will County and the adjacent counties of Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee and Kendall in Illin  more